Undergarment



F. M. SMITH UNDERGARMENT May 11, 1948.

Filed April 24, 1946 INVENTOR. PEA-N055 "M. BY

SMITH.

ATTUENEY.

Patented May 11, 1948 UN DERGARMEN '1 Frances M. Smith, Bridgeport,Conn., assignor to The La Resista Corset Company, Bridgeport, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application April 24, 1946, Serial No.664,505

Claims.

The present invention relates to an undergarment, particularly a ladiesbody controlling foundation garment of bifurcated type. The inventionmay be incorporated in either a girdle form of garment having its upperedge approximately at the waistline, or in a corselet type whichincludes an upper brassire section. In either case, the lower portion of'the garment is of bifurcated or pants form, and the garment ineludessections of elastic material through which it is adapted to confine andmould the body. The usual garment of this type has a tendency to bind,draw and twist in the crotch of the pants portion, especially whilewalking or climbing, or when assuming sitting or forward leaningpostures. This is due to the fact that in assuming such postures thebody lines lengthen in the region of the thighs and buttocks, and,because of the confining nature of the garment, the crotch 'is strained,the upper edge of the back section of the garment is pulled downwardly,and the leg sections ride upwardly. Frequent readjustment and pullinginto place of the garment becomes necessary.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment of bifurcated type,wherein the leg sections are free to move relatively to the backsection, so that in assuming postures causing lengthening of the bodylines, the leg sections are allowed to have relatively independentmovement with respect to the back section. To this end it isparticularly proposed, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, toprovide a garment wherein the backs I of the leg sections have a freelymovable upper edge secured at its ends to the rearward seams of the sidesections of the garment, and which is superimposed by the back sectionof the garment, also secured to the rearward seams of the side sections,the lower edge of the back section being below the upper edge of theback leg sections. Consequently, a telescoping action may take placebetween the back section of the garment and the leg sections,lengthening of the body lines being thus permitted while the backsection and the leg sections remain in substantially fixed positions ontheir respective parts of the body.

A further object is to provide a garment wherein the back sectionoverlying the back leg sections presents a smooth relatively fiatappearance, so that the outer garments will hang in a smooth straightline, without the tendency to cling to the back leg sections and cup inbelow the buttocks, as is the tendency with the usual type of bifurcatedundergarment. s

Another object is to provide a garment having a drop seat at the backleg sections, which may be drawn forwardly, and. a back section whichmay be raised, thus enabling the normally overlapping edges of the dropseat and back sections to be widely separated for sanitary purposes.

With the above and other objects in View, embodiments of the inventionare shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will behereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and theinvention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partially broken away, of the undergarmentaccording to one illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing the garment as posture.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view from the rear, showing the garment as wornin a standing posture.

Fig. 6 is a side view, showing the garment as worn in a sitting posture.

Fig. 7 is a side view, also showing the garment as worn in a sittingposture, and with the back sections open for sanitary purposes.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation, showing the invention as incorporated in.acorselet type of garment.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the undergarment, according to theillustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a frontsection consisting of a central panel portion l0, preferably formed ofnon-elastic fabric, and front portions l2|2 secured to the side edgesIl--ll of the panel l0, and preferably formed of two-way stretch elasticwoven material, capable of both view from the front, worn in a standingvertical and horizontal stretch. The central panel I 0 extends from theupper edge of the garment to the crotch seam, its side edges convergingdownwardly, while the front portions |2l2 have their lower ends extendedbelow the central panel to form the forward sides of the leg portions ofthe garment. To the outer side edges of the front portions |2l2 thereare secured along seam lines I3l3 side panels l4|4, also preferablyconstructed of two-way stretch elastic woven that-it also permits ofconsider material. To the rearward edges of the side panels l li4 thereare secured along the seam lines l5l5 the side edges of the back panel16, also preferably constructed of two-way stretch elastic wovenmaterial, its lower edge H, which is adapted to extend transverselybelow the buttocks, being secured at its ends a short distance above thelower ends of the seams Hi -45 and being curved upwardly in a relativelylow arc.

The back leg sections l8-i8 are secured at their forward edges to theinner edges of the front portions l2l2 and to the lower edge of thecentral panel it along an inverted U-shape crotch seam id, and aresecured together at the upper edges of their inner sides along s,central seam line 29 extending from the crotch seam l9 rearwardly to themeeting point of the upper edges 2l2i oi the rearward sides of the backleg sections. These upper edges iii-2i are inclined downwardly from theouter side edges of the-leg sections, so that the upper edge of the twoleg sections is in the form of a V, as shown {clearly in Fig. 2, whereinthe of the v is concavely curved between its two sides. The outersideedges of the two back leg sections are secured along the seam linesl5iii beneath the back panel Iii, so that the points at which the outerendsof the upper edges ii are secured are relatively high andapproximately at the hip line, while the central portion of the edge 2iis at a relatively low point. Thus therearward portion of the back legsections is in the form of a seat, the upper edge of which is adapted toextend diagonally upwardly across each side of the but-- tocks.

lhe edge ll of the back panel it extends substantially below the edge 25in the normal stand ing posture of the wearer so. that the overlapbetween the back leg sections and the back panel it is sufficientlygreat to enable subst ntial relative movement of the leg sectionsrespect to the back panel, as for instance sit *2, so that theoverlapped relation of the central points of the edges ll and 2i ismaintained.

Inner edge and seam bindings cover the upper edge of the garment, thelower edges of the legs, and the seams It, to, it and The edges H and 2!are hemmed, preferably do not have inner facings. an of the edge andseam facings 22 are of elastic woven material, and the stitching alongthe edges seams is of zig-zag or other suitable stretchable type, sothat all'oi the edges and seams are capable of stretching. The curvedlower line i? of the back panel idissuch that it permits of co derablestretch of the lower portion of he be a panel, and the V-shaped upperline iii of the seat portion of the back leg sections is such length hestretch of the seat portion of the back leg sections.

Suitably positioned hose supporters 323 are secured to the lower edgesof the leg portions of the garment.

porated in a corselet type or" an upper brassiere section shoulderstraps 25-25 extending edge-to the upper edge of the pa zipper typefastener is pro-v c. .pperportion of the seam line for convenience inputtin garment. If desired, the illustrated-in Figs. 1 to 7 re oigarment provided with nilar-Zipper fastener along the'upperpcrtion cfone oi-the seam lines 53.

may b a sir In operation, the back leg sections it have relativelyindependent movement with respect to the back panel 16, so that inwalking or stepping up, which causes lengthening of the body lines, theback leg sections will remain substantially fixed upon the legs withouttendency to ride up, and the back panel iii will remain substantiallyfixed with respect to the waist and hips, the elastic upper line 2i Ofthe seat portion of the back leg sections moving beneath the overlyingback panel section it with the movement of the legs Consequently, thereis no strain upon the crotch portion of the garment and. no tendency tobind, draw, or twist. Upon resuming a standing posture, the parts of thegarment automatically return to their'positions upon the body withoutriding or drawing displacement action.

In assuming a sitting posture as shown in Fig. 6, the upper edge of theseat portion of the back l-eg sections slides downwardly beneath theoverlapping. back panel section it, the high degrees or" stretchabilityof the curved edge El and the shaped edge 25 being sufficient to permitthis action without exerting a binding strain upon the garment andwithout displacing strains upon other portions of the garment. Asillustrated in Fig. 7, the seat portion of the back leg sections may begrasped centrally between the legs and drawn forwardly, and the backpanel raised, to

0 provide a wide separation of the elastic edges 2i and ll for sanitarypurposes. Upon resuming a standing posture the parts will returnautomatically totheir normal positions.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodimentsof the invention, but it will be" understood that changes may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A' bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencircling portion including a back panel section having a transverselower edge secured at itsends being entirely free of attachment betweensaid secured ends and adapted to extend across the body below the hips,and leg portions joinedat the crotch and including back leg sectionshaving their upper rearward edges secured; at their outer-ends at pointsapproximately at the hip lineand being entirely free of attachmentbetween secured ends, said upper rearwardedges movably disposed inlapped upwardly spaced relation to t .e-lower edge of saidback panelsection.

2. A: bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding r garmenucomprising a bodyencircling portion including aback panel section having a transverselower edge-secured'at its ends and being entirely-free: of attachmentbetween said secured ends and adapted to-ez'ztehd across the body belowthehips, and leg portions joined at the crotch and including backleg'seetions'hav-ing their upper rearward edges secured at theirouterends at points: approximately at'the hip line and beingentirelyfree. oi'attachment between. said secured ends, said upperrearward'edges being movably disposed beneath the lower portionof saidback panel section in upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of saidback panelsection.

/ 3; A1 bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment;comprisinga'booly' encircling portion-ineluding a back panel sectionhavingatransverse lower edge secured at its. ends and being entirelyfree of attachmentibetween said securedie'nds and adapted to extendacross-the. body below'the hips, and leg portions joinedat the crotchand including back leg sections having a common seat part having itsupper edge secured at its outer ends at points approximately at the hipline and being entirely free of attachment between said secured ends,said upper edge being movably disposed in lapped upwardly spacedrelation to the lower edge of said back panel section.

4. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencircling portion including a back panel section having a transverselower edge secured at its ends and being entirely free of attachmentbetween said secured. ends and adapted to extend across the body belowthe hips, and leg portions joined at the crotch and including back legsections having a common upper edge secured at its outer ends at pointsapproximately at the hip line and being entirely free of attachmentbetween said secured ends, said common upper edge being movably disposedin lapped upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said back'panelsection, said back panel section and said back leg sections being formedof elastic material whereby the lower edge of said back panel sectionand said common upper edge of said back leg sections are stretchable.

5. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencircling portion including a. back panel section having a transverselower edge adapted to extend across the body below the hips, and legportions joined at the crotch and including back leg sections having acommon upper edge free of attachment and movably disposed in lappedupwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of said back panel section,said upper edge being in the form of a V having its ends secured atpoints spaced substantially above the endsof the lower edge of said backpanel section.

6. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencircling portion including a back panel section having an upwardlycurved transverse lower edge adapted to extend across the body below thehips, and leg portions joined at the crotch and including back legsections having a, common upper edge free of attachment and movablydisposed in lapped upwardly spaced relation to the lower edge of saidback panel section, said upper edge being in the form of a V having itsends secured at points spaced substantially above the ends of the loweredge of said back panel section.

7. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencircling portion including a back panel section having a transverselower edge adapted to extend across the body below the hips, and legportions including front leg sections and back leg sections joined alongan inverted U-shaped crotch seam, said back leg sections being joinedtogether along a central seam extending rearwardly from said crotch seamto form a seat portion, said seat portion having an upper edge free ofattachment andmovably disposed in lapped upwardly spaced relation to thelower edge of said back panel section.

8. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencirclingportion including front and side section-s and a back panelsection, said back panel section having its side edges secured to therearward edges of said side sections and having a transverse lower edgeadapted to extend across the body below the hips, and leg portionsjoined at the crotch and including back leg sections having a commonupper edge free of attachment and movably disposed in lapped upwardlyspaced relation to the lower edge of said back panel section, said upperedge being secured at its ends to said rearward edges of said sidesections at points substantially above the ends of the lower edge ofsaid back panel section.

9. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising a bodyencircling portion including front and side sections and a back panelsection, said back panel section having its side edges secured to therearward edges of said side sections and having a transverse lower edgeadapted to extend across the body below the hips, its ends being securedto the rearward edges of said side sections at points in upwardly spacedrelation to the lower ends of said rearward edges, and leg portionsjoined at the crotch and including back leg sections having a commonupper edge free of attachment and movably disposed in lapped upwardlyspaced relation to the-lower edge of said back panel section, said upperedge being secured at its ends to said rearward edges of saldsidesections at points substantially above the ends of the lower edge ofvsaid back panel section.

10. A bifurcated close-fitting body-moulding garment, comprising anupper brassiere portion, a body encircling portion including a, backpanel section having a transverse lower edge secured at its ends andbeing entirely free of attachment between said secured ends and adaptedto extend across the body below the hips, and leg portions joined at thecrotch and including back leg sections having upper edges secured attheir outer ends at points approximately at the hip line and beingentirely free of attachment between said secured ends, said upperrearward edges being movably disposed in lapped upwardly spaced relationto the lower edge of said back panel section.

FRANCES M. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,315,701 Herbener Apr. 6, 19432,367,328 Bercaitz Jan. 16, 1945 2,424,651 Dubner July 29, 1947

